Oxygen mouthwash is a type of mouthwash made to counter the growth of bacteria on teeth and gums by changing the mouth's overall pH level. The mouthwash ingredients create an alkaline environment that inhibits the harmful bacteria responsible for common dental problems such as cavities and gingivitis. Oxygen added to mouthwash has also been shown to neutralize the sulfurous bacteria that often lead to halitosis. Various kinds of oxygen mouthwash have concentrated oxygenated water mixed with the rest of the ingredients. Using a mouthwash with added oxygen is effective with only small amounts, and many users see results after rinsing with a small capfull per day.

Some types of oxygen mouthwash also have added nutrients such as vitamin A and vitamin D. These supplemental vitamins can help strengthen teeth and improve overall gum health, although many dentists stress that the vitamins in mouthwash are not meant to be substituted for a nutritious diet. Oxygen mouthwash can also contain aloe vera, which frequently soothes mouth irritations from recent dental work. Some people find this kind of mouthwash helps relieve gum pain from procedures such as newly completed root canals.

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The bacteria that cause many dental troubles are anaerobic and therefore thrive in environments with little if any oxygen. The active ingredients in oxygen mouthwash kill much of this bacteria as well as its by-products that are largely responsible for bad breath. As an alternative to oxygenated water, some brands of this mouthwash have an ingredient called chlorine dioxide that has similar antibacterial properties.

People with regular dry mouth problems often find that using oxygen mouthwash is helpful for this condition. Inadequate saliva production usually leads to dry mouth as well as higher instances of cavities, gum disease, and even tooth abscesses. Saliva is naturally rich in oxygen, and too little of it can allow anaerobic mouth bacteria to grow unchecked. Many dentists recommend a brand of oxygen mouthwash that contains lower amounts of alcohol for patients with dry mouth conditions.

Some dentists prefer that their patients use oxygenated mouthwashes instead of mouthwashes containing high amounts of alcohol. Although alcohol can be effective at killing mouth bacteria, it can also be quite drying for many people who naturally produce inadequate saliva. Regular use of a mouthwash with oxygen and with lower amounts of added alcohol often helps to keep their mouths adequately hydrated. This type of mouthwash can usually be purchased over the counter in most drug stores.

Discuss this Article

MammmoodPost 7

@miriam98 - I’ve used oxygen mouthwash and it does help, but the reality there is no permanent cure for bad breath in my opinion. That’s because bad breath is caused by bacteria, and when you kill the bacteria they will grow again.

You will never be able to create a permanently oxygenated environment in your mouth. At night you will sleep and the bacteria grow again. It’s certainly a condition you can combat, but never permanently get rid of in my opinion.

Still, I think it’s a useful article; it should put to rest the notion that all you need to combat your bad breath is alcohol mouthwashes or gum and mints.

Oxygen mouthwash is great if you have dry mouth, but its effects are temporary. If your mouth is dry, then the oxygen will dry up too and you will be in the same condition you were in to start with.

At least that has been my experience, and I have some moderate dry mouth as a result of a medication that I take. So what’s the answer?

You have to drink a lot of water. As a matter of fact, you probably need to drink it more than most people. At work when I need to go talk to someone I always take a glass of water with me and sip from time to time.

I’m probably the only person who does this and I probably look strange, but if my mouth is dry it’s very difficult for me to talk.

I'm getting some dental work done soon, and I think an oxygen mouthwash with aloe vera might be a good idea for me. I'm getting two crowns put on my teeth. I remember in the past when I had a procedure like a root canal or a crown, my mouth was sore for a while afterwards.

If aloe vera could help solve this problem, that would be awesome. And, the benefits of oxygen mouthwash do sounds great. I'm really most concerned with helping the soreness from dental procedures though!

@fify - I think you're right that oxygen mouthwash wouldn't have any affect on transmitting mono. Mono is a virus, and from what the article said oxygen mouthwash seems to have an effect on bacteria. And bacteria and viruses are two totally different things!

Oxygen mouthwash sounds like a really great idea though. I use mouthwash all the time, but I pretty much hate it because it stings so much. I know the stinging comes from the alcohol content that's in most mouthwashes. So maybe if I switch to one that has more oxygen and less alcohol I'll be more comfortable!

I like oxygen mouthwash too and I use it every night for dental hygiene and good breath. But a friend of mine started using it when he caught mono believing that he would not transmit the virus to his girlfriend if he used it. I don't think this is a good idea. I'm sure oxygen mouthwash will kill the virus in the mouth, but since it's in the bloodstream, I think it could reappear in saliva at anytime.

I've told him that he should not share glasses or kiss his girlfriend until his mono goes away. He is under treatment for it and I think he should use oxygen mouthwash for hygiene in general. But it's naive for him to think that he won't transmit viruses by using a mouthwash.

I use an oxygen mouthwash for bad breath. My dentist recommended it to me when I complained about it. I tried it right away and it really makes a difference. Bacteria growth is also responsible for bad breath, so killing bad bacteria seems like a smart way to fight it off.

I don't know why but I've found oxygen mouthwash to be more effective for bad breath than regular ones.

I heard on TV that mouthwash with alcohol might be responsible for growing rates of mouth and throat cancers. I think oxygen mouthwash must be much safer since it contains little to no alcohol.

Another issue I'm curious about though is whether using oxygen mouthwash would affect digestion in any way? And if so, whether that would be a positive or negative affect?

I know that our saliva is very beneficial for our digestive system and helps breakdown food and prepares it for digestion. Since oxygen mouthwash changes the pH level of the mouth, would this have any adverse affects on digestion?

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